The Delta independent., 1887-05-10
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
From our regular correspondent.

that President Cleveland would not ac-
was really something new, and his clos
est friends believe that he means it..
From the non-committal attitude of
Private Secretary Lamont, he evident
ly intended this news should appear to
be news to him. A reporter called at
his residence long before daylight on
Saturday morning and asked if the re-
port should be re-affirmed or denied
that the president had made = declara-
ton to this effect on last Wednesday
to a prominent democratic senator
from one of the western states the
cautious Col. hesitated moment, and
then said: "The president has not
made known to me anything about the
matter. in fact l don't know anything
about it." II truthfully quoted the
president said to his senatorial friend:
Everything do. every appointment i
securing reelection, while in reality l
am counting the days remain until my
release from Office. just as if were a
prisoner in confinement" He men
toned that he had not expressed
HIS FEELINGS PUBLICLY.
or to the representatives of the press,
for the simple reason that he felt that
nothing he might say about the matter
would be believed. He scarcely tx
pected to be believed now by anyone
but his wife, but added that it was so
nevertheless. This is in consonance
with what another friend of the presi-
dent who was recently here on a visit,
said i'll regard to IA second candidacy in
'ss. He believed that Mr.. Cleveland
would adhere to his letter of acceptance
and refuse To be a candidate for Sc
cond term. He was also of the opinion
that the president would write a letter
to this effect to give the public clear
understanding on the subject. and it is
not unlikely that the publicity which
has been given to this alleged private
conversation on the subject will event
ually provoke some formal and public
utterance from the White House. The
the gigIing, gabbiing newspaper men.
was unfortunate. The president has
felt compelled to protect himself, or
rather to protect his visitors from the
indignities of certain vulgar corre-
spondents here, by Withdrawing GER
tain privileges to which all Journal
istic visitors to the executive mansion
have become accustomed. The said
correspondents took a position in rear
of the president while his tri-weekly
handshaking to the public was in pro-
grsss last Wednesday,, and made
RIBALD REMARKS
at the expense of the honest passers-by
There We're about three hundred of
these, and almost every one came in
for Il little criticism or fun-making,
which was audible to the president. at
least, and. Of course, very annoying to
him. Now be receives his callers in
solemn state. The ill-bred wits have
been invited no: to attend. The present
ness and courtesy to the press which
have been appreciated by its represent
atives as u whole, even if they have
been abused by few. Until Presi-
dent Cleveland invited correspondents
to attend the diplomatic reception last
winter. they could stand in the yesti-
bule with the wrap-bearers of guests.
but they never had any defnite social
standing at the official receptions. In
diyidual members were invited privat-
ly and on New Years day correspond
ents were freely admitted. But in the
classification OF Washington official
life, where precedence is as much
thought of. apparently, as at European
courts, where the smallest bureau or
division chief is assigned place, rs
are also the sergeants of police of the
navy. no correspondent OF any news
paper could. by virtue of his place,
gain access to the White House on oc-
casions Of ceremony. President Cieve-
land changed all this. He gave the
representatives Of the press definite
social status when he officially extend
! ed to them an invitation to the White
House through the secretary Of the
senate and the clerk Of the house. AS
the correspondent of the New York
Sun wrote at the time. THAT has given
the press a status by the side of sena.
tors and representative, and the staff
corps of the General of the Army, who
wear the gilded cords of the army of
the continent
The cabinet officers are enthusiastic
in praise of their southern trip to at
| tend the unveiling Of the Calhoun
statue. The orator Of the occasion.